Derry boys close in on elusive playoff berth after defeating Freeport

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, January 22, 2019 | 10:21 PM

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Derry is flirting with the WPIAL boys basketball playoffs again, threatening to make a return to the postseason after more than a decade away.

Only this year, the Trojans look like serious contenders to break through. And if they do, a major reason will be their defensive play.

Freeport, albeit foiled some by a cold shooting night, got a taste of what the Trojans can do.

Derry picked up one of its most notable home wins in recent years with a 67-54 victory over the Yellowjackets on Tuesday night in a Section 1-4A game.

“We needed this win to stay in the hunt,” said Derry junior Justin Huss, who led four double-figure scorers with 17 points, 13 in the second half. “We had to keep going and not let up because any team can come back at any moment.”

Derry (9-5, 3-3), out of a two-game funk, is now tied with Freeport (8-5, 3-3) for third in the section. The top four teams make the playoffs.

The teams split their two-game section series with each winning at home.

The Trojans used a torrid scoring run — and accompanying drought by Freeport — from late in the second quarter and early into the third, to pull well ahead and cancel out the Yellowjackets.

Derry could be closing in on its first WPIAL playoff appearance since 2007-08. The Trojans have not posted a winning season since 2000-01.

“We executed our defensive game plan to near perfection,” Derry coach Tom Esposito said. “We preach, our defense starts our offense, and it did. We did well in transition of not forcing. We were very patient and poised tonight.”

Junior Tanner Nicely added 16 points, 11 after halftime, while 6-foot-7 senior John Kerr added 15 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks before fouling out late. Ryan Bushey had 10 points, and junior Aidan Bushey chipped in nine points.

Freeport won the first meeting, 65-59, as the Yellowjackets outscored the Trojans, 18-8, in the third quarter.

In that game, Kerr was dominant with 22 points and a head-shaking 18 blocks.

He was still a force inside, but had plenty of help this time.

“We don’t look for one guy to carry this team,” Esposito said. “They are so unselfish. We spread the ball around and try to get the ball in everyone’s hands. We made great shot selections tonight. We kept moving on offense, got the ball in the right spots, in the right time, and attacked the rack hard.”

Derry had just 11 turnovers.

Derry overcame suspect foul shooting (12 of 29) by pushing the pace and scoring in transition.

The Trojans broke an 18-18 tie in style, taking a 13-0 run into the break.

Freeport went the final 3:51 of the first half without a point.

The Yellowjackets went more than eight minutes without a field goal in total, a drought that spilled into the second half.

Derry scored 18 straight points before junior Garret Schaffhauser made a layup with 5:30 left in the third.

“We work hard on defense, to be able to put that to use in the game,” Huss said. “We like to run and get up the floor fast. Whenever we can’t, we like to back it up and set up our offense.”

Freeport made a mild push in the third to trim the deficit to 10 (38-28), but Derry ended the quarter on an 11-5 surge to take a 49-33 lead into the fourth.

“We did it the last two games, at Knoch and tonight,” Freeport coach Wayne Greiser said. “Quality opponents and they came out ready to play.

“Same thing happened at Knoch: We went into a big lull and couldn’t score. We pride ourselves on defense so when we’re not scoring, we can’t set up our press. … It hurts our defense and our offense.”

Freeport, which came in with the most points allowed in section (67.2 a game), could only get within 12 in the fourth (57-45) on an and-1 by junior Aiden Skradski, who scored a team-high 15.

Senior guard Jalen Brown scored 13, including seven in the fourth quarter, and Schaffhauser had 12 for the Yellowjackets.

“They were making their shots and we weren’t,” Greiser said. “They were creating the advantages and we weren’t. Give all the credit to them.

“They outplayed us tonight and outcoached us and that’s on us.”

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Derry Area, Freeport